Marc Marquez took a 10-point lead in the MotoGP standings at Phillip Island, but Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi does not see a championship that can be managed defensively. Marquez reached the top of the table for the third time this season after his Sprint battle with Jorge Martin ended with the Aprilia rider crashing. Martin was diagnosed with a fractured right wrist and was ruled out of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.

That Grand Prix never took place. Poor visibility meant that the medical helicopter could not operate, forcing the cancellation of the race and removing Marquez’s opportunity to increase his advantage. Tardozzi accepted that Ducati had lost a valuable sporting chance, but said rider safety had to come before sport, business or any other consideration. He also recalled losing Carl Fogarty’s career at Phillip Island in 1998, explaining why he did not want to see another serious outcome at the circuit.

Aprilia showed the speed to challenge Ducati

Tardozzi’s assessment of the weekend also included sympathy for Aprilia. Rain on Saturday morning removed what he considered the team’s dry-weather advantage in qualifying, yet Marco Bezzecchi still climbed from the fourth row to fourth place in the Sprint. The result gave a clear indication of the Aprilia’s potential in dry conditions.

Martin had the pace to keep Marquez under sustained pressure before making the mistake that ended their fight. Tardozzi said he could not know whether Marquez would ultimately have beaten him, but expected the contest to remain a direct battle until the finish. That is important for the title calculation: the Aprilia rider was not simply present in the leading group, but had the speed to force Marquez to respond.

Martin targets Sepang after further checks

Martin was initially expected to return to Europe, but additional scans ruled out a suspected second fracture. He is now working towards appearing at Sepang next weekend. Tardozzi described the 2024 world champion as a “hero” and said Martin would try to race and make life difficult for Ducati despite the wrist injury. The manager added that Martin’s competitiveness at Sepang and Qatar could have a positive or negative effect on the championship, depending on how much speed he can recover.

Tardozzi also praised the way Marquez handled the Sprint duel. In his view, the Ducati rider was operating at the limit but remained conscious of the situation and showed considerable respect for Martin. When Martin passed him, Marquez tried to answer immediately because allowing the Aprilia rider to run alone for one or two laps could have allowed him to escape. Tardozzi expects the reigning nine-time world champion to produce even stronger races later in the season.

Four Grands Prix remain

Ducati’s expectation is that Marquez will continue attacking rather than simply protect his lead. Tardozzi believes three of the remaining four races will suit Aprilia more closely, with Ducati holding the advantage at one venue. He nevertheless sees Marquez as a major reason for confidence inside Ducati, while acknowledging the strength of Aprilia’s two championship contenders.

Bezzecchi is 50 points behind Marquez, but Tardozzi considers that gap recoverable and believes the Italian has the ability to win every remaining Grand Prix. That creates a complicated dynamic for Aprilia: if Bezzecchi takes victories, he could reduce Martin’s opportunities to score while also closing his own deficit to Marquez. Pedro Acosta, who will move to Ducati in the future, was asked at Phillip Island whether he would act as Marquez’s friend in the title fight. His answer was that there are “no friends” while he remains a KTM rider until the end of the season.

The calendar now heads to Sepang, followed directly by Qatar, before returning to Europe for Portimao and Valencia. Last year’s results illustrate how widely the advantage can move between manufacturers and riders: Pecco Bagnaia and Alex Marquez won the races at Sepang for Ducati, while Marc Marquez recorded both Qatar victories. Bezzecchi then won the Portimao and Valencia Grands Prix, with Alex Marquez taking the Sprint wins at those events. Marquez and Martin were also both injured at the end of last season, adding another reminder that fitness may be as important as outright pace during this final four-round run.